Free Picks: Service Plays for Tuesday February 19

Re: Free Picks: Service Plays for Tuesday February 19

Hollywood Sports

Maryland at Boston College
Prediction: Boston College

Maryland (18-7) will be playing their first game after their upset 83-81 win at home versus Duke on Saturday. We had the Terrapins in that one for our ACC Game of the Year -- but we expect a major letdown for this team in this spot. As it is, Maryland is just 7-18-1 ATS following a victory. Now the Terrapins go on the road where they are just 2-4 with an average losing margin of -2.4 PPG. Additionally, Maryland is just 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 games on the road against teams with a winning record at home. Boston College (11-14) is 9-6 on their home court this season. They have also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games at home. And in their last 10 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%, the Eagles have covered the point spread in 7 of these contests. Take the points with Boston College in this one.

Re: Free Picks: Service Plays for Tuesday February 19

Ross Benjamin

Wichita State vs. Indiana State
Play: Indiana State

The Indiana St. Sycamores are a very good 10-1at home this season automatically giving this selection home underdog value. The Sycamores are an excellent 14-2 ATS versus teams with a winning record this season. Although the Shockers will be playing with revenge they can't help being mentally affected knowing they were beaten at home by 13 points at home in the first meetings between these two clubs this season. Any team that's coming off 2 road favorite straight up losses, versus an opponent playing with same season revenge in which they scored 60 points or less is 26-4 ATS (86.4%) since the start of the 1997 season. Play on Indiana St. Plus the small number.

Re: Free Picks: Service Plays for Tuesday February 19

Andre Gomes

Boston Celtics +8.5

Denver ended the first half of the season banged up and beaten up by losing their last three games. It was a brutal span for them that ended up in Brooklyn with the Nuggets playing their fourth game in five nights, having played a triple overtime game at Boston in the middle of that span. To make things worse for them, Andre Iguodala and Danilo Gallinari didn't play the last two games and even though Denver was competitive, they couldn't win the two games down the stretch. For today, Denver finally had some rest and Iguodala and Gallinari will be back for tonight's contest, where Denver is coming back home where they have a 22-3 record so far on this season.

The game between these two teams at Boston two weeks ago was one of the best games of the season so far. Boston should had won in regulation, but then they should have lost in the first overtimes. The Celtics have been losing players almost every single week, but they keep remaining competitive due to a great team chemistry that they hadn't shown early on the season. Paul Pierce and Jason Terry are rested for tonight's game, while Kevin Garnett only played six minutes in the All Star game, so the Celtics's veteran players won't have to deal with dead legs for tonight's showdown. The Celtics were obviously outrebounded by Denver in the first game between the two teams, but they managed to compensate that by forcing turnovers, while being more assertive at the free throw line. They will need to do the same thing tonight if they want to be competitive on this contest, as Denver will surely be ready for some payback tonight.

Just because the Nuggets are playing at home, this doesn't mean that they will crush every single team that they face in Denver! Before going on their recent road trip, the Nuggets had a series of games where they crushed their opponents at home, but where they also had some favorable matchups. We know that Denver crushes their opponents in transitions, especially at home, and they faced Sacramento (#26 on transition defense), Houston (#27), New Orleans (#28), Milwaukee (#21) and Chicago (#29)! Boston is still ranked #30 on transition defense, but since their game against Miami where they lost Rajon Rondo for the season, they received a huge boost on this area by starting Avery Bradley and Courtney Lee together in the backcourt. Boston is allowing 1.23 PPP this season on transition plays, but since that game, they have allowed just 1.07 PPP! Boston's defense has been an elite team on defending pick and roll ball handler plays and in forcing turnovers, so I like the Celtics on this matchup and this is why I took them with a -2 line in the game played at Boston two Sundays ago.

Of course that Denver will be playing at home, but we aren't talking about one of those bad physical spots where the Celtics are crushed due to their lack of physical ability. I expect Boston to be competitive tonight, with their offense taking advantage of the fact that Denver's defense is a weak team in closing out on the shooters. This is why in the first game Boston had more success on the outside with 13-30 (43.3%) 3pts than on 2pts shots, where they shot 30-78 (38.6%) FG! I believe the Celtics will be a competitive underdog tonight, so I'll be taking them in here.

Re: Free Picks: Service Plays for Tuesday February 19

Dave Price

Missouri State +5.5

The Northern Iowa Panthers have caught a little fire. They have won each of their last five games. However, they are just 4-9 in games played outside Cedar Falls this season, and recent history suggests they can't be trusted laying points on the road. The Panthers are a poor 4-13 ATS as a road favorite or pickem over the last 3 seasons and 8-18 ATS in road games against conference opponents over the last 3 seasons. Missouri State is 12-3 ATS versus conference opponents this season and 7-1 ATS when checking in off a loss against a conference rival this season. Northern Iowa won the season's first meeting by 11 at home but that victory isn't all that impressive consider the Bears were 15 of 55 from the field and 3 of 21 from three. They won't shoot that poorly in their own building. Missouri State won by 12 in last season's home meeting. Prior to that, these two played four consecutive 1-point games. Take the points in what should be another tight one.

Re: Free Picks: Service Plays for Tuesday February 19

Joseph D'Amico

NC State -7½

FSU is 4-6 SU and 1-9 ATS their L10 including a 1-3 mark on the road. In the first meeting, NC State shot 29% and committed 17 TOs, leading to their 76-62 defeat. The Wolf Pack won their L2 games . Certainly, the return of Brown rounds-out five starters that all average 11 or more PPG. Leslie and Howell own the boards (18.6 RPG combined), while the "O" leads the Conference , ranking 5th nationally in FGs with a 49.9% rate. The Wolf Pack wants payback in this one, not to mention improving their shot at the Big Dance. Take NC State.

Re: Free Picks: Service Plays for Tuesday February 19

Jeff Alexander

Sacramento Kings +9

The Spurs are a soft 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 games versus a team with a winning percentage below .400. The Kings, meanwhile, are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games versus a team with a winning record. They are also 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games when playing on 3 or more days' rest.

Re: Free Picks: Service Plays for Tuesday February 19

John Martin

Memphis Grizzlies -2

The Memphis Grizzlies are clearly the superior team in this match-up with the Detroit Pistons. That will show on the court tonight as these two meet in Detroit. That has proven to be the case in this head-to-head series in recent meetings. Memphis is a perfect 6-0 SU & 6-0 ATS in its last 6 meetings with Detroit. It has won all six contests by 6 or more points, including four by 12 or more.

Re: Free Picks: Service Plays for Tuesday February 19

Red Dog Sports

North Carolina -3½

The Tar Heels should get points from McAdoo, PJ Hairston, Marcus Paige, Strickland and Reggie Bullock. UNC is a better rebounding team and beat Ga Tech by double digits in the Dean Dome. I think we see UNC win by 6 and cover the small number.

Re: Free Picks: Service Plays for Tuesday February 19

No handicapper has had a more decorated career than Joe Duffy’s GodsTips. That continues Tuesday with a 3-0 sweep in college basketball. The free pick is to take Chicago Bulls (-1.5) to New Orleans.

Both teams have actually played better on the road than at home. Chicago has a slight plus on total road points, while New Orleans is -2.5 points per game at home. That in and off itself does not demand a pick. However, remember in about 85-90 percent of the cases, the home team is more rested.

Both teams are well rested coming off the all-star break. Also, one of our Golden Rules is rest benefits the teams that need it the most and hurts teams in a groove. Yes New Orleans was playing their best basketball of the year. Problem is they have not played in six days.

Chicago needed the break as they were struggling. But overall, the Bulls are the much better team. Chicago had guys in and out of the line-up and played seven of their last eight games before the break on the road. So no team will benefit from the time to refocus more than them.

It also gives Kirk Hinrich time to ease back into the line-up. He missed seven games and that added to the struggles.

THIS IS NOT A GAMBLING SITE – If you think you have a gambling problem click here.

Disclaimer: This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Individual users are responsible for the laws regarding accessing gambling information from their jurisdictions. Many countries around the world prohibit gambling, please check the laws in your location. Any use of this information that may violate any federal, state, local or international law is strictly prohibited.

Copyright: The information contained on TheSpread.com website is protected by international copyright and may not be reproduced, or redistributed in any way without expressed written consent.

About: TheSpread.com is the largest sports betting news site in the United States. We provide point spread news, odds, statistics and information to over 199 countries around the world each year. Our coverage includes all North American College and Professional Sports as well as entertainment, political and proposition wagering news.